davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Connecticut western news., 1887-09-07
A French Frog Farm.

The French frog farm is much like one of our cranberry meadows "a swamp
 aid out in broad ditches with grassy banks between them. We remember years ago passing one of these farms in the vicinity of a large French city in the early evening, and being drawn to notice it by the deafening music from the thousands of fat fellows sitting in the damp grass and now and then splashing into the ditches and continu- ing to sing their lays as they protruded their shouts just above the surface of the water. These frogs were special breed. Rama esculenta by name, but differing very little from our handsome, slender specimen found marshes, and having bright green and brown spotted skin. Our common bull frog is said to quite as delicate in flavor, and more ac- ceptable in point of meat than tho escu- lent species ofsEurope, and as the natu- ral stock of them is fast disappearing before the nets of the hunters thousands are now imported from Canada for the supply of the New York market. Con- sequently the time has come for the skilled culture of them in connection with other aquatic products, as brook trout, carp, bass and other fish, or water cress, which can be grown con- junctively, and are very profitable TNew York Times.
Connecticut western news., 1887-09-07
Handling California Wheat.

In no country in the world can wheat be handled as cheaply as in California During the harvest season there is no pos sibility of rain, and the wheat is put into burlap bags and stacked up in the field until the farmer is ready to ship. When sent to San Francisco it lies on the wharf until a ship is ready to take it on board. No shelter is needed, and there arc no elevator charges, the bags being placed on board ship just as they come from the fields. In addition to the profit resulting from cheap handling, the own CT has his profits considerably increased by the gain in weight made on the voy- ageto Liverpool. When the wheat leaves California it is dry as finder, and in ex- actly the condition to absorb the mois- turc of the sea air; and, consequently, on its arrival in England cargo of wheat will be heavier by many thousand pounds than when it left California. Wheat is never shipped in bulk, but always in bags, as when loaded in bulk it is about the most dangerous cargo ship can car ". No matter how lightly it may be packed at first, it settles considerably within short time, and then it is very liable to shift. When shifting takes place ship is as good as lost, as the change in the center of gravity throws her on her beam ends, and she is nearly certain to go to the bottom in the first moderate gale. Many ships were lost in this way, and now the shipment of grain in bulk is prohibited by law Globe Democrat
Connecticut western news., 1887-09-07
A Scotch COurtship.

A young Aberdonian, bashful, but des perately in love, finding that no notice was taken of his frequent visits to the house of his sweetheart, summoned up sufficient courage to address his fair one thus: --.-.
 "Jean, I wis here on Monday nicht."
 ''Aye, ye were that" acknowledged she.
 "An' I wis here on Tuesday nicht.'
 "An' wis here on Wednesday" con- inued the ardent youth.
 sAye, an ye were here on Thursday nicht."
 "An' wis here last nicht, Jean"
 "Weel," she said, "what if ye weres"
 "An' am here this nicht agan."
 "An' what aboot it, even if ye cam every nicht?"
 'sWhat aboot it, did ye say, Jean9 Div ye no begin to smell rat?"-[Dub- lin Nation.
Connecticut western news., 1887-09-07
Trial Trip on the Clyde.

The large steel paddle steamer En- press, built to the order of the London, Chatham and Dover Railway Company, for their service in the English Chan nel, by the Fairfield Engineering and Shipbui1ding Company (himiteD was recently run over the measured mile at Skelmorlie. Notwithstanding the high head wind that was blowing and the heavy sea running, the Empress attained high speed of 21. knots, or rather over 24 miles an hour. The machinery is arranged so that the boilers are worked under forced draft. The steamer, which has registed tonnage of 1900 tons, is similar in design to the Victoria, built by the same firm last year, having rud- der at each end to facilitate her leaving the harbors
 Her dimensions are: Length between perpendicu.ars, 325 feet; breadth, 34 feet inches; depth moulded to upper deck, 21 feet She is built entirely of steel, and is divided into eight water tight compartments. This unusually close subdivision of the hull-a water tight bulkhcad to each 40 feet of the steamers length admirably fits the Empress for the passenger service on which she will be placed. The cabin and other accommodation for channel +roya1lora boa hoan carefully arranDea for their comfort and convenience. The vessel is fitted with set of of compound, diagonal, direct-acting engines. The boilers, which are constructed of steel, are adapted for working pressure of no pounds per square inch. All the latest improvements, including the electric light, have been provided fol the Empress. Mechanical World.
Connecticut western news., 1887-09-07
The Spanish Passion for Dancing.

presume that those who have travelled in Spain hardly realize how thoroughly that country is given to the worship of St. Vitus. Says recent writer: "Thc dance demon scizes on Spanisrds at all times and under all circumstances the streets, on the public squares, under the porches of stately mansions. A peripatetic musician comes along, strum- ming his guitar, and in an instant the maid servants throw aside their brooms, the workwomcn set down the pitchers they are carrying to the fountain, the muleteers leave their mules, the inn keeper forgets your dinner and all spring forward, arms akimbo and eyes spark ling. Their feet just touch the ground, they balance in unison with the music and dance with their souls as we'll as with their bodies.
 Let tourist visit Toledo and put up at the ancient hostelry of De Limo, and let guitar player station himself under the great sombre archway that Don Quixote himself would not have passed without foreboding of evil, he will see with his own eyes how tho natural order of things will be disarranged and everything thrown into confusion. A fandango will begin in the court, the kitchen and the street, and amid such a hubbub that he will think he has taken leave of his senses.
 ''One day at St. Sebastian the regi- ment passed by with band at its head. A fandango was played.
 ''Even the children who had been in- dustriously engaged in making dirt pies pricked up their ears, caught each other by the waist and tried to go through the steps. Their nurses joined in snap ping their fingers. The passers by came to the assistance of the nurses. The soldiers themselves couldn't stand the temptation, but fell out of the ranks and mingled in the dance. Fl Chicago | Tribune.
Connecticut western news., 1887-09-07
Without Iniury.

The other day a reporter saw black smith examining an ax, from which he had been asked to remove portion of the handle, which had been broken off close to the iron. The wood could not be driven out, and as nails had been driven at the end it could not be bored out. 'What will you do?" asked the reporter. "I'll burn it out, was the re- ply. "But you'll injure the temper of the steel" suggested the reporter. "Well, maybe not," said the smith. He drove the cutting edge into the moist earth and built fire around the pro- jecting part. The wood became charred and was easily removed, while the tenn pered part of the ax sustained no injury. -[ Philadelphia Call.
Connecticut western news., 1887-09-07
Use More Windmills,

The Lowell Journal argues for bring ing the windmill into general use ill New England. It reasons that if farmers were to build work shops for their boys, driving them with windmills, the me- chanical talent would be cultivated, tools would be kept in shape, and many things now done by hand would be done by power. The Journal would make a sort of manual training school of the farm workshop, and adds: "And when one has grown up to it, he may find it fully worth his while to do as our big mill owners do with their water privi- leges-supplement the windmill with a small steam engine"
Connecticut western news., 1887-09-07

TIE Boston Bulletin declares that, Notwithstanding the great draw upon the wood reserves of the country there Is no danger of exhaustion at present. New England is by no means denuded of its timber. The great Northwestern pineries are comparatively unexhausted. There is also vigorous second growth of white pine in New England, where the forests are already yielding between 200, 900, 900 and 300, 900, 900 feet of tim Der annually. Southern pine, although stripped from the banks of streams flowing into the Atlantic, is practically untouched in the Gulf States, especially those bordering on the Mississippi The hardwood forests of the Mississippi ba- sin are still prolific. In Michigan, par ticularly the Northern Peninsula, hard wood is plentiful, maple especially. In tine Pacific coast region the great forests of fir are practically intact. The forest capacity of the country is vast. Strange to say, the decimating element of most potence is fire, and not the axes of mer- ccnary timber speculators."
Connecticut western news., 1887-09-07
How to Act at S Fire,

MT. A. w. c. Shcan recently gave the following simple directions how to act on the occurrence of fire, before the So- ciety of Arts: "Fire requires air; there fore, on its appearance every effort should be made to exclude air, shut all doors and windows. By this means fire may be confined to a single room for a sufficient period to enable all the inmates to be aroused and escape; but if the doors and windows arc thrown open, the flaming of the wind and the draught will instantly cause the flames to ln- crease with extraordinary rapidity. It must never be forgotten that the most precious moments are at the commence ment of fire, and not single second of time should be lost in tackling it. In a room tablecloth can bs so used as to smother large sheet of flame, and a cushion may serve to beat it out; coat or anything similar may be used with equally successful result. The great point is presence of mind, calmness in danger, action guided by reason and thought. In all large houses buckets of water should be placed on every landing, a little salt being put into the water. AL ways endeavor to attack the bed of fire; if you cannot extinguish fire, shut the window, and be sure to shut the door when making good your retreat. A wet silk handkerchief tied over the eyes and nose will make breathing possible in the midst of much smoke, and blanket wetted and wrapped round the body will enable a person to pass through a sheet of flame in comparative safety. Should lady's dress catch fire, let the wearer at once lie down; rolling may extinguish the fire, but if not, anything, woollen preferred, wrapped tightly round will effect the dcs1red purpose. A burn be- comes less painful the moment air is ex- cluded from it. For simple burns, oil or the white of egg can be used. One part of carbolic acid to six parts of olive oil is found to be invaluable in most cases, slight or severe, and the first layer of lint should not be removed till the cure is complete, but saturated by the application of fresh outer layers from time to time Linen rag soaked in q mixture of equal parts of lime water and linseed oil also forms good dressing. Common whiting is very good, applied wet and continually damped with { sponge II Cultivator.
Connecticut western news., 1887-09-07

X pretty Nebraska widow who had ensnarcd the affections of many respect able farmers living near Wyman was recently ordered to leave the county by band of "regulators" under penalty of 8 coat of tar anl feathers Nothing daunted by the threat the widow bought a double barrel shotgun and awaited de- velopments. When the regulators" approached the house to carry out their threats, the sight of 8 loaded gun point ing from one of the windows deterred them, and one of the number, in admir- atioa of the wqmah-s pluck, advanced under flag of truce, proposed marriage and was accepted on the spot. Then a minister was called in, the marriage was celebrated and the night wound up with a round of festivities
Connecticut western news., 1887-09-07

Niagara Falls is changed place. From tho brink of the American falls to the smooth water at the head of the rapids the view is unobstructed, except by single pulp mill, which is to be re- moved. The former visitor who remem- bers the unsatisfactory and partial views of years ago, wonders if he ever saw these rapids before. Formerly the full sweep of the water dashing down this declivity of fifty-five feet before taking the final plunge over the abyss could be seen at no point open to the public. Now the view is as free as the water which dashes madly before the visitors eyes. There is no more obstruction to the view of the American rapids than to that of the Canadian rapids from the outermost of the Three Sisters islands.
Connecticut western news., 1887-09-07
w CANAAN, CONN. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER

HIS dTLl, WHICH Sue tOOh sIlyly. ho" pretty that ring looks on your hand! Do you know I have strong desire to put it on with a wish2'
 ''Well, haven't any objections" said Sybil, blushing faintly.
 So Ainsley took her small white hand, and put the ring on it.
 'It will come true in year, if il comes true at all, " he said. "Now, come! The german begins at ten, and I must tell you what figures have chosen"
 Everybody wanted to know who that quiet little thing was who danced wish Ainsley Arbuthnot; and the next day Dick Travers brought a friend to call. He found Evelyn Ogden alone in hel glory.
 Miss Weir has gone out to hunt $ place" she said viciously. ''She wants to teach school, I believe"
 'Ah, you don't say?" said Dicks com panion, who was the yonth with the primrose. 'Do you think she would take me for a pupil9 lam not much on most things, but the fellows say I an the very deuce at geography"
 A month slipped by, and Sybil went home disappointed. It was the wrong time of year, they said. She might gel place in the fall, but there was none vacant now.
 'I'm afraid I'm not of much account, Aunt Hannah," she said, despondently, as she sat by the little old study lamp, thinking it all over. 'I might as well have stayed at home, and not spent the money going to town. Indeed" she added, with 8 sigh, Git would have been great deal better.'
 It was an odd answer to her observa tion, that there came just at that mo ment ring at the bell, which brought her face to face in the doorway witl Ainsley Arbuthnot."
 'I have followed you," he said, hold ing the hand which she gave him. :" found that I could not be happy ava. from you, and I came to ask, Sybil whether I might not stay with yo, always"
 "Come in, she said, leading him int the parlor, where only the fireligh1 shone. "Excuse me-" she added hastily, 'I will get lamp"
 ''This will do," he said, detainin, her. q like this best. Sybil, yo, know what I came for. love you Will you marry mel" x She was a natural girl, without an art or coquetry, and she answered him out of her heart:
 ssYes."
 sThen my wish will come true," b said, lifting her hand and Kissing where the gold ring spanned her prett finger. "Doyou know what wished darling2 The ring said that the yea would bring you husband, and Iwishc' it might be me-"
 It is needless to say that sybil did no look for any further position.
 "she ought to be satis fled" said Eve lyn Ogden, when she heard of the en gagement. "It is astonishing what goo, fortune some of those plain girls have Mir. Arbuthnot is the best catch of tn season. ."-[ Saturday Night.
Connecticut western news., 1887-09-07
UerOiSnl.

 Not on the battlefield, I deem, ..-, Are deeds the most heroic done: Not where the sword and bayonet gleam Are victories the grandest won. Not in the plague infested town, Where stay the few the sick to save, And for their lives their own lay down, Shalt thou behold the worlds most brave In acts of great self sacrifice,
 Ofwhich all men with wonder hear, A1secret inspiration lie, That stirs the soul and conauers fear. To do the duty few shall know, And knowing, scorn what God requires, The menial duty far below,
 The task to which the heart aspires. To do such service, out of love, E. Unmoved by either praise or blame, And with steadfast soul above The reach of either pride or shame, Displays courage that alone In one such act doth far outshine All other earth had ever known, A courage Christlike and divine
Connecticut western news., 1887-09-07
Improving Her Mind.

'Improving your mind, l see," said the nice young man yesterday as he found his Sunday girl buried in small vol tune.
 "Yes," sho answered, putting her finger on the line and glancing sweetly up; 'I am devoted to reading. Isn't it glorious to be an author and sway mill lions of hearts by beautiful language and thrilling description9'
 ''It must be; what are you reading now2"
 "Stuttcring Pete, the Demon Detec- tive. ."-T Nashville American.
Connecticut western news., 1887-09-07

The canning of fruits and vegetables in California has increased rap;dli with in the last few years. It has nearly treblea in decade, the paeAof last sea son exceeding 760, 900 cascs and that of 1887 IS estimated to be at least 30 per cent. larger, making the production nearly 1, 900, 900 cases. Fully so per cent. of these canned goods arc marketed est of the Rocky mountains, not few of them being sold for direct export to Europe.
Connecticut western news., 1887-09-07

The male representative of the hon. ored English house of Fairfax lives near Washington, an American citizen, a busy farmer, driving his own teams to market, and utterly indifferent to his title. Nothing wilt induce him to go to Englnnd and assume its privileges, in- cluding his scat in the House of Lords. It was MT. Cor Lord) Fairfax's great grandfather who, when he heard that Cornwallis had yielded to General Washington, turned with a hcart-d dis gustcd look to his valet, and said: "Sam, put me to bed! It's time I should die !'-and died in an hour.
Connecticut western news., 1887-09-07

The Signal scrtico Bureau has decided to display signals kith aview to distin-. guish between lieh Int and severe storms. Along the Atlantie and Gulf Coasts, and on the Great Lakes, yellow flag with white centre will indicate that the winds expected are not so severe, but that well-found and seaworthy vessels can meet them without great danger. A red flag with black centre, now in use, will indicate that the storm is expected to be of more marked violence. In view of the difficulty of varying night signals, they will not distinctively show the force, but indicate the wind direction only; a rcd light for easterly winds, and red and white light for westerly winds.
Connecticut western news., 1887-09-07
One for Him.

Our Artist---Do you know, Maggie, you're a pretty girl and ought to let me draw you2" Maggie-And do you know, sir, you're a pretty gentleman and I will let you draw me-a bucket or two of water.
 It was washing day, and sue kept him busy Puck.
Connecticut western news., 1887-09-07
Saturn's MO0n.Circles.

Further marvels of Saturn's rings have been noted by M. Stuyvert, of the Royal Observatory of Brussels, and other as- tronomers. Dusky notches in the edges of the rings, with evidences of variabili- ty, are indications which support the view that the singular hoop-like appen- dages of our sister planet are made up of small satellites so closely grouped that the spaces separating them from each other are not visible at the carth's distance.
Connecticut western news., 1887-09-07
The Progress of Paper Making.

Owing to the improvement of labor saving machinery since its introduction in 1s32, says one mill owner, Ian amount of manual labor, which, prior to 1880, would have produced one ton of paper, will now produce ten tons," yet thefe has been steady increase in the number of hands. The percentage of wages to total cost varies from ten to twenty-five per cent. on various papers, the average being about $1 labor to $4 materials. ls.-[Paper Mill.
Connecticut western news., 1887-09-07
HUMOROUS.
. K MI,
A great prophet-10O per cent.

A great prophet-1OO per cent
 A poor relation-A blood-and-thuhder story.
 A railing womashli like swordhsh. She carries a wyfohin her mouth.
 A squall makes boats capsize, but makes babys mouth one size larger.
 An enthusiastic mcetiTg-two girls who haven't seen each otEsr for an hour;
 Shakespeare was not/ broker; but does any one know who else has fur nished so many stock quotationsG
 'fNow is the accepted time, "remarked the poor young man solemnly when hs girl told him she would have him.
 A firm who advertised for a boy "to\ do heavy work" received but one apph- \ cant and he came in charge of his 4 father. s'
 "Custom made pants, asserts tailor.A. We do not suppose this fact can be de- nied. Custom is responsible for a good / many things.
 The walters ready explanation: "How dare you give me such . dirty napkin us thisa' Beg pardon, sir; got folded the wrong way, sir" X An Ohio factory turns out 57,OOo, COON matchesa day, and yet many man has N parked his shln On a, rocking-chair be- / cause he didn't have ono of them.
 Husband (attempting to sing-"My voice is rather h-hus husky tonight" Wife-"No wonder it's husky! You are full of corn."-[ Newman Independent.
 A young man named Darling lives in Bridgeport, and when any one calls to him in the street, every young lady near bushes and looks around, gently saying, ''Sh, sh."
 A news item tells of the marriage of "a widow of only eight days standing" It is not surprising that widow, after standing eight days, should do some- thing rash.
 It is said that the next edition of Webster will describe ''yearning' as the ''feeling which Eastern people have to get away from Daktoa after passing one winter in that region."
 Mother (anxiously)-rm afraid you are giving the baby too much sugar, James.
 Father-Not at all my dear. want him to be full of grit.
 Darling he whispered, "did you ever experience fluttering sensation of the heart---an inward sinking, so to speak2" ''Yes, love-" she faintly mur- mured. "Why2" Because if you have, I know how to prevent it." "Oh, John, tell me how" "Why, just use plenty of pepper when you eat cucum- bers."
 The young, unmarried girl in sport Is called a ''bud of promise;"
 She blooms each year at some resort,
 The weather when it warm is | And in the Fall a score of men, Whose hearts till now have harm missed, 1 Compare sad notes and find out then
 To each the "bud" is promised.
Connecticut western news., 1887-09-07
A COnsiderate Mendicant.

"How is money?" said middle aged man, wearing withered looking prince Albert coat, as he entered the office of a well-known broker. ''Is there much of Q demand for it now?"
 "No, sir. Very slight demand"
 "Ah In that case perhaps you can accommodate me with ten cents to get a nights lodging with. ."-[ Merchant Traveller
Connecticut western news., 1887-09-07

Y The production of locomotives in Flu rope during the year 1886 amounted in England to a,aoo; Germany, aoOo; France, 1000; $elgiun, 500; Austria,
 400, SwiszcrlanA 1ao; Italy, 70 Sweden,
 90; Russia, 40, aRN | Holland, 20; in all 6, 400 engines. Th largest works in the world is the BAldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia, which is capa- ble of turning out 500 per year. Borsig in Berlin can produce 300 in that time.
Connecticut western news., 1887-09-07
Taking Time By the FOrelOck,

The celebrated Dr. Schmidt Elves every Monday gratuitous advice to poor patients Moses Levy enters his room.
 s'What is the matter with you?" asks the doctor.
 '1n reality, nothing" answered Levy "but have heard that to-day you don't charge anything perhaps something is the matter with me, after all. "--- File gendc Blatter.
Connecticut western news., 1887-09-07
Valuable in an Emergency.

Jack-Is that valuable ring you've got on, Gus2
 Gus-Tve hung it up for $75.
 Jack-You don't say so2
 Gus-Yes. Seventy-five times. Dollar each time. New York Sun.